Ramirosuarezia boliviana (Pradel, Maisey, Tafforeau and Janvier 2009; Middle Devonian) is a tiny early whale shark after testing in the LRT. It was originally considered enigmatic, perhaps because this clade was derived from placoderms, like Dickosteus, with a low, disc-like skull.

Rhincodon typus (Smith 1829; up to 18.8m) is the extant whale shark, a relative of Stegostoma. Near terminal jaws contain 300-350 rows of tiny teeth and 20 filter pads (palatines), reminiscent of shark skin. The orbits occupied the front corners of the poorly ossified skull. Nares were inside the mouth. Open spiracles were posterior to the orbits. Although an open seas swimmer, the flattened shape of Rhincodon is a legacy from its bottom-dwelling ancestry.